The Viking's Wife

Chapter Eight

"Mother!" Kara cried when she saw the woman who had given birth to her.

The woman just started to laugh. "Your husband knows how to make you listen I see." She  said when she saw her daughter tied to the bed.

Katra  gaped at her laughing mother.
"I am held prisoner in my bed. I think that you should be a little more concerned about this."

At this Katra had to look away in anger because it had set the other women off into another round of laughter.

"Daughter knowing you like I do it was probably the only way you would stay in bed. You have never been able to stay to your bed when you were ill. I remember you as a child when Rolf and you would go wandering off and your father and brothers will go looking for you." Said the queen.

Katra looked at her mother and smiled fondly at the mention of Rolf. The wolf had passed away of old age 2 summers past. Remembering him always brought a fond smile and little saddness to her heart. Rolf was the perfect companion for a child to go on adventures with. To this day Katra still missed him.

Clearing her throat she looked  to her mother and smiled at the her. "Untie me please. I wish for a  bath."

Her mother did as she had asked and helped her put on clock to cover her body to make it to the bathhouse. After gathering the supplies they would need mother and daughter headed to the door of the cabin. They had almost reached it when the door opened to reveal Arne standing looking at his wife.

"I'm sure I told you stay in bed," he said as he brought the sack to the table that held the food he had brought back from the gathering hut.

Katra looked at the man and simply said, "I stink. You may feel fine with your odour but I am not and rather go to the bath house and deal with the problem, husband."

Arne turned to face his wife. As he looked at her he saw her straighten her back ready for a fight. All he could do is shake his head. When Katra opened her mouth ready to argue he strode over to her picked her up smiled at the queen as he reached for the clothes in her hand and walked out of the hut with his wife in her arms.

"It would please me wife if everything didn't have to be an argument. All you had to do is ask and I would have brought you." Arne said.

Katra ground her teeth together. " You tied to me to a bed." She replied.

"Katra you do not listen you argue assuming that I will not give you what you want or need." Arne started to say as they reached the bathhouse. Katra opened her mouth to argue when Arne looked down at her and glared. "Do not say a word it is the truth. You wish to make this union hard on me but the truth is your making it hard on you also. You argue because you think I abandoned you." He said as he put Katra back on her feet.

Katra took two steps away and looked at him. "You left. You left. You abandoned me. You left me to be made fun off and humiliated in front of my people." Katra turned away so he would not see the tears in her eyes. So he would not see her weakness. She liked the people to think that it didn't bother her. In the end though it did. She stiffened her body when she felt Arne lay his arms around her and bring her into his body with her back facing her front.

"I am sorry for that. You were so young and your brothers said you were happy and healthy. The only reason I can give you is I did not wish to see you as a child. We have been married for many a season now Katra but we have not been married. I would like to start this union anew. Starting here. Starting today in this room." Arne said as he held his wife in his arms.

Then he took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "What say you?"

AN
Rough draft. It also has come to my attention that ring were not used as a symbol if marriage that didn't come around till Christianity. I haven't decided if I'll keep it in or take it out. Let me know what you think. It wouldn't be till latter. It I might just not mention it from here on out